Hibs made the trip to Paisley on the back of four successive defeats, but in-form St Mirren were unable to inflict a fifth as a game of little meaningful action finished without a winner.

The result marked just the second time in six games St Mirren had failed to win, and the point was of more obvious value to a Hibs side marshalled by Butcher for the first time since his switch from Inverness.

Next job on the new boss' agenda is to get his side scoring goals - at no stage at Greenhill Road did they ever seriously threaten to find the net for the first time in five matches.

A failed first-half penalty appeal, after Jim Collins had gone down under Darren McGregor's clumsy challenge, was about as much penalty-box excitement as the travelling support could enjoy.

But there was plenty to admire in the way Hibs restricted their confident hosts to a handful of half-chances over the 90 minutes, the first of them sliced wide left-footed by Steven Thompson after Paul McGowan's pass had put him away.

McGowan's soft header was nodded out of harm's way by Alan Maybury, stationed on the goal-line, and after the break Thompson made a hash of a free header eight yards out.

Hibs enjoyed a decent spell without bothering Marian Kello unduly, and it was St Mirren who finished the stronger as John McGinn flashed a fierce 20-yard shot wide deep into injury-time.